Timepiece movement

ABSTRACT

The timepiece movement proposed has a spring which drives, via gearing, a time display and a generator (1) supplying an a.c. voltage. The generator (1) powers, via a voltage-transformer circuit (2), a first capacitative component (10). The first capacitative component (10) powers an electronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) with a stable oscillator (3, 4) and an electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9). The first capacitative component (10) is charged immediately after the movement is started for the first time by one or more passive components. The one or more passive components are replaced, or supplemented in parallel, by one or more active units as soon as the voltage of the first capacitative component (10) is sufficient to operate the one or more active units, the one or more active units having a lower electrical resistance in the pass direction then the one or more passive components.

This invention relates to a watch movement according to the preamble ofpatent claim 1.

A watch movement is known from CH-597636, whose spring drives a timeindicator and alternating-voltage-producing generator by means of geartrain. The generator supplies voltage to a voltage transformer circuit,the voltage transformer circuit supplies voltage to a capacitivecomponent, and the capacitive component supplies voltage to both anelectronic reference circuit with a stable oscillator and an electroniccontrol circuit. The electronic control circuit comprises acomparator-logic circuit and an energy dissipation circuit which isconnected to the output of the comparator-logic circuit and whose powerconsumption is controllable by means of the comparator-logic circuit.One input of the comparator-logic circuit is connected to the electronicreference circuit and another input of the comparator-logic is connectedwith the generator. The comparator-logic circuit is designed such thatit compares a clock signal from the electronic reference circuit with aclock signal from the generator, and, depending on the result of thiscomparison, the comparator-logic circuit controls the magnitude of thepower consumption of the electronic control circuit by means of themagnitude to the power consumption of the energy dissipation circuit. Inthis manner, the comparator circuit also controls the movement of thegenerator and thereby the movement of the time indicator by control ofthe power consumption of the control circuit.

The power consumption of the energy dissipation circuit in the watchmovement known from CH-597636 is, however, only controllable in twosteps by means of the comparator-logic circuit according to CH-597636.The power consumption of the energy dissipation circuit according toCH-597636 is, namely, either maximum or zero. This means that thegenerator can only either be braked with a maximum strength or not atall. Significant control oscillations in the movement control of thewatch movement result thereby. In this manner, relatively bad energyefficiency of the watch movement is obtained.

The voltage transformer circuit according to CH-597636 is a rectifier.One typically uses diodes as rectifiers in watch technology, such as isknown, for example, from the publications GB-A-2,158,274,EP-A-0,326,312, U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,931, EP-A-0,467,667, EP-A-0,326,313,EP-A-0,309,164, and EP-A-0,241,219. Diodes are passive components. Theuse of diodes as rectifiers during the total running time of a watchmovement impairs the energy efficiency of the watch movement because ofthe threshold voltage of the diode.

In a watch movement whose spring drives a time indicator and a generatorby means of a gear train, the problem arises that only limited energycan be stored in the spring. The more power is needed for driving thewatch movement, the shorter is the movement reserve of the watchmovement. The necessary drive power is a combination of the mechanicaldrive power for the watch movement, frictional power, and the electricalpower of the generator. The electrical power output of the generator isdetermined by the power consumption of an energy-using electroniccircuit connected to the generator. It is further noted that thefrictional power of the generator has a direct relationship with thevoltage induced by the generator. As a rough estimate, the mass of therotor of a generator must be greater the greater the induced voltage isto be. However, the frictional power and the mass moment of inertia ofthe rotor also increase with the mass of the rotor. A relatively highmass moment of inertia of the rotor is, however, disadvantageouscompared with a relatively small mass moment of inertia. If the rotoris, for example, stopped by an impact, it would start again more slowlywith a relatively large mass moment of inertia compared with arelatively small mass moment of inertia. If the rotor has a relativelylarge mass moment of inertia it takes longer for it to once againachieve its nominal speed. There is thereby a danger during the startingphase of the rotor that the capacitive component will be dischargedbelow a voltage level necessary to drive the watch electronics, thisdanger is naturally greater than with a rotor with a relatively smallmass moment of inertia which accelerates more quickly so that thenominal speed is achieved more quickly.

Large electrical and mechanical energy losses necessarily lead, however,to a smaller movement reserve, or to the production to a watch movementwith a larger spring, whereby the watch movement in its entirety has agreater volume.

It is an object of the present invention, to provide a watch movementwhose spring drives a time indicator and a alternating-voltage-supplyinggenerator by means of a gear train, which mechanism can be driven in aparticularly energy-efficient manner.

This object is solved, according to the present invention, by a watchmovement with the characteristics of patent claim 1.

The particularly good energy efficiency of the watch movement of thepresent invention according to claim 1 is achieved in which at least onepassive component is at least intermittently replaced with an activecomponent with a smaller electrical resistance in the conductingdirection. In this fashion, the voltage losses are decreased and theefficiency thereby increased.

This object is also achieved by a watch movement with the features ofpatent claim 2.

With the watch movement of the present invention according to claim 2,the power consumption of the electronic control circuit is controllablein more stages than with the watch movement according to CH-597,636. Bythese means, the control oscillations and energy losses related to thecontrol oscillations can be decreased.

The object is further solved by a watch movement according to theinvention with the features of patent claim 3. With the watch movementof the present invention according to patent claim 3, the powerconsumption of the electronic control circuit is practicallycontinuously controllable in a predetermined range of values. A distinctdecrease in control oscillations and related distinct improvement ofenergy efficiency of the watch movement is thereby achieved incomparison with the watch movement according to CH-597,636.

Advantageous embodiments of the watch movement of the present inventionaccording to claim 1 are the subject of patent claims 4 through 6, 8, 9,and 11 through 39. Advantageous embodiments of the watch movement of thepresent invention according to patent claims 2 and 3 are the subject ofpatent claims 7, 8, and 10 through 39.

The embodiments according to patent claims 5 to 7 combine the advantagesof the watch movement of the present invention according to patent claim1 and the watch movement of the present invention according to patentclaim 2, or as the case may be, the watch movement of the presentinvention according to claim 1 and the watch movement of the presentinvention according to patent claim 3, respectively.

According to the embodiment of patent claim 8, the passive component isa diode and the accompanying active component is a switch controlled bya comparator. Voltage losses over the switch are at least about an orderof magnitude smaller than voltage losses over a diode.

In the embodiments according to patent claims 12, 26, and 27 transistorstructures are used in a double function as diodes and transistors. Thisis a particularly advantageous circuit technology and saves space.

The indicator for movement reserve in the embodiment according to patentclaim 28 is particularly user friendly.

The circuit construction according to patent claims 32 and 33 as an ICis particularly advantageous in circuit technology and fabricationtechnology and is also space saving.

Embodiments of the invention are explained as follows by means of thedrawings.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic portion of the watch movementaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the voltage transformer circuit with afirst embodiment of a voltage tripler circuit;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a voltage transformer circuit with asecond embodiment of the voltage tripler circuit; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a voltage transformer circuit with athird embodiment of the voltage tripler circuit.

In FIG. 1, an electronic portion of a watch movement according to thepresent invention is shown in block diagram. Analternating-voltage-supplying generator (1) is connected with a spring(not shown) by means of a gear train (also not shown). The gear traindrives the generator (1) and a time indicator (not shown). The nominalfrequency of the alternating voltage of the generator (1) is preferably2^(n) Hz, where n can be a natural number different from zero. Themechanical portion of the watch movement according to the invention isstate of the art. Reference in this respect is made to CH-597,636.

Generator (1) energizes a voltage transformer circuit (2). The voltagetransformer circuit (2) energizes a first capacitive component (10). Thefirst capacitive component (10) energizes an electronic referencecircuit (3, 4, 5) with a stable oscillator (3, 4) and an electroniccontrol circuit (6, 7, 8, 9). The stable oscillator (3, 4) comprises aquartz resonator (4) whose oscillations define a reference frequency.The voltage transformer circuit (2), the electronic control circuit (6,7, 8, 9), and the electronic reference circuit (3, 5), with theexception of the quarts resonator (4), and with the exception of allcapacitive components present in the above circuit, are put together asIC 11. In another embodiment, even the capacitive components areintegrated into IC 11.

The electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) comprises a comparator-logiccircuit (6). One input of the comparator-logic circuit (6) is connectedto the electronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5), and an other input isconnected with the generator (1) over comparator stage (7) detecting thecross-over of the alternating-voltage and an anticoincidence circuit(8). The anticoincidence circuit (8) is substantially a buffer storagewhich prevents a simultaneous input of impulses to both inputs of thecomparator-logic circuit (6). In addition, the electronic controlcircuit (6, 7, 8, 9) comprises an energy dissipation circuit (9)connected with the output of the comparator-logic circuit (6) andcontrolled in its power consumption by the comparator-logic circuit (6).

The energy dissipation circuit (9) is made up of a plurality of equalohmic resistors. The size of one ohmic resistor is small when comparedwith the size of the resistance that results when all ohmic resistorspresent are switched in series. The comparator-logic circuit (6)controls the power consumption of the energy dissipation circuit (9), inthat it changes the number of ohmic resistors switched in the currentpath. In this manner, the power consumption of the electronic controlcircuit (6, 7, 8, 9) is controllable in a substantially continuousmanner in a predetermined range of values by the number of resistors.

It is also possible to build the energy dissipation circuit (9) as acontrollable current source.

The comparator-logic circuit (6) compares a clock signal coming from theelectronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) with a clock signal coming fromthe generator (1). Dependent on the result of this comparison, thecomparator-logic circuit (6) controls the magnitude of the powerconsumption of the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) by means ofthe magnitude of the current consumption of the energy dissipationcircuit (9). In this manner, by control of the control circuit powerconsumption, the operation of the generator (1) and thereby theoperation of the time indicator are controlled. The control is designedso that the operation of the time indicator is synchronized in thedesired manner with the reference frequency delivered by the quartzresonator (4).

The comparator-logic switch (6) has a counter whose count readingcorresponds to a speed or cycle difference between the generator (1) andthe electronic reference circuit (3,4, 5). The power consumption of theactual dissipation circuit (9) is controlled depended on the countreading of the counter. Depending on the state of the counter, theenergy dissipation circuit (9) dissipates more or less energy andthereby loads the generator more or less. Each count reading is assigneda predetermined effective resistor combination in the energy dissipationcircuit (9). This means that the comparator-logic switch (6) can,dependent on the count reading, switch the ohmic resistors in the energydissipation circuit (9) singly, or in various combinations, into theactive current path, or out of the active current path. This also takesinto account the case in which none of the before-mentioned ohmicresistors are switched into the active current path at one or more countreadings.

The control is, however, limited in that, when a particular countreading is achieved, the counting of generator impulses is interrupted.This is particularly necessary in order to effect a problem-free startof all electronic components of the watch movement and to provide forthe case in which the spring is wound up again after a complete stop ofthe watch movement. A similar effect can be achieved if thecomparator-logic circuit (6) and the energy dissipation circuit (9) arematched in such a fashion that the power consumption of the energydissipation circuit (9) is held to a minimum for a predetermined rangeof count reading (for example, 0 to 16) and the power consumptionthereafter changes in a linearly proportional manner to the countreading when the predetermined range of count reading is exceeded. Forthe proposed example, this would mean that for a count of over 16, thepower consumption of the energy dissipation circuit (9) would increasein a linearly proportional manner with increasing count reading anddecrease in a linearly proportional manner with decreasing countreading. The minimizing of the power consumption of the energydissipation circuit (9) in the afore-mentioned range of count readinghas the result that a rotor of the generator (1) can thereafter beaccelerated without hindrance if, for example, it were to have beenstopped by an impact. Such--to the extent possible--unhindered and quickacceleration to the nominal speed is desirable because of the reasondiscussed above in connection with the explanation of the mass moment ofinertia of the rotor.

In order to further stabilize the control, the counting of impulses canbe interrupted by a particular minimum reading of the counter.

The watch movement further comprises an assembly (not shown) forindicating the movement reserve dependent on the counter reading. Theindication of movement reserve is achieved by means of an LCD.

The electronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) comprises a frequencysplitter circuit (5) connected between the stable isolator (3, 4) andthe connection to the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9). Thisfrequency splitter circuit (5) splits the reference frequency deliveredfrom the quartz oscillator (4) in a defined manner in order to enable amore simple synchronization of the time indication.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 to 4, the voltage transformer circuit (2)carries out the functions of both a rectifier and a voltage tripler.

A first diode (14) is connected in series with the generator (1) and afirst capacitive component (10). A first switch (19) is parallel to thefirst diode (14), but in series with the generator (1) and in serieswith the first capacitive component (10). The first switch (19) isactively controlled by a first comparator (21).

The voltage transformer circuit further comprises a voltage triplercircuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) which is coupled on its inputside to the generator (1) and coupled on its load side to the firstcapacitive component (10) and the parallel circuit of the first diode(14) of the first switch (19). A load side terminal of the voltagetripler circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) runs together with theconnection of the first capacitive component (10) opposite the firstdiode (14) in a grounding knot (22).

The first comparator (21) compares the electrical potential of theconnection of the first capacitive component (10) that does not lie onthe ground potential, with the electrical potential of the load sideterminal of the voltage tripler circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23)that does not lie on the ground potential. The first switch (19) is onlythen closed by the first comparator (21) when the voltage of the firstcapacitive component (10) suffices to operate the first comparator (21)and the electrical potential at the ground free load connection of thevoltage tripler circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) is high enoughfor further charging of the first capacitive component (10).

The first switch (19) is a first field effect transistor and isconnected so that in its closed state a portion of its structure acts asa first diode (14).

The spring, the gear train, the generator (1) the voltage transformercircuit (2), and the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) aredesigned so that the generator (1) operates at a speed which is greaterthan the nominal speed of the generator (1) during the period from startof the watch movement until the point of the charging of the firstcapacitive component (10) to a predetermined value. In this manner, atfirst, the charging of the first capacitive component (10) is achievedby first diode (14).

The voltage value of the first capacitive component (10) sufficient tooperate the first comparator and to operate a second comparator (20)disposed in the voltage tripler circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23)(explained more fully below) is 0.6 V in this embodiment. The voltagedrop across the first diode (14) is 400 mV. As soon as the firstcapacitive component is charged to at least 0.8 V, problem-freefunctioning of the electronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5), and theelectronic circuit (6, 7, 8) is made possible. The first comparator (21)closes the first switch (19), that is, it opens the first field-effecttransistor, as soon as the voltage delivered by the voltage tripler (12,13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) is higher than the voltage of the firstcapacitive component (10). The voltage drop across the channel of thefirst field-effect transistor, however, is only 10 mV. The voltage lossis substantially reduced. As soon as the voltage from the voltagetripler circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) sinks below the voltageof the first capacitive component (10), the first comparator (21) closesthe first field-effect transistor. If the voltage from the voltagetripler (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) once again climbs to asufficiently high value, the first comparator (21) once again opens thefirst field-effect transistor, and so on. The charging of the firstcapacitive component (10) takes place only in the start phase of thewatch movement by means of the first diode (14) with a large voltageloss. As movement proceeds, the first capacitive component (10) is onlycharged over the channel of the first field-effect transistor, which issubstantially more energetically advantageous than charging over thefirst diode (14). In this manner, the energy reserve of the watchmovement is used in a more economical manner and the movement reserve isincreased.

It is not possible according to the present state of the art to build amicro-generator that has an induced voltage of more than 1.6V. Thismeans that the voltage transformer circuit (2) must perform a voltagemultiplying function in addition to its rectifier function. Thealready-mentioned voltage multiplier circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18,20, 23), serves this voltage multiplier function. In the presentembodiment, the voltage multiplier circuit (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,20, 23) is a voltage tripler circuit. Three embodiments of the voltagetripler circuit are shown in FIGS. 2 through 4.

In such a voltage multiplier circuit, the already-mentioned problem ofvoltage drop across the necessary diodes is always present. This problemis solved in the embodiments of the voltage multiplier circuit shown inFIGS. 2 through 4 in a similar manner to the problem of voltage dropacross first diode (14). Second and third capacitive components (15, 16)are connected in series with generator (1), whereby generator (1) ispositioned between the second capacitive component (15) and the thirdcapacitive component (16). A first embodiment of the voltage triplercircuit (see FIG. 2) further comprises a parallel circuit of a seconddiode and a second switch (17), along with a parallel circuit of a thirddiode (23) and a third switch (18). The parallel circuit of the seconddiode (12) and the second switch (17) is in series between theconnection of the second capacitive component (15) on the generator sideand the connection of the third capacitive component (16) on the loadside. The parallel circuit of the third diode (23) and the third switch(18) is in series between the generator side terminal of the thirdcapacitive component (16) and the load side terminal of the secondcapacitive component (15). The above briefly-mentioned second comparator(20) controls the second as well as the third switches (17, 18). Thefirst embodiment of the voltage tripler circuit further comprises afourth diode (14) in series between load side terminals of the secondand third capacitive components (15, 16).

The second, third, and fourth diodes (12, 23, 13) are arranged in thesame conducting direction, and the first diode (14) is connected in anopposite conducting direction. The second comparator (20) compares theelectrical potential of the connection to generator (1) connected withthe second capacitive component (15), with the electrical potential ofthe load side terminal of the third capacitive component (16). Thesecond and/or the third switches (17) and (18) are only closed by meansof the second comparator (20) when the voltage of the first capacitivecomponent (10) is sufficient to run the second comparator (20) and theelectrical potential provided by the generator (1) is high enough tocharge the second or third capacitive components (15, 16).

The second switch (17) is a second field-effect transistor, and thethird switch (18) is a third field-effect transistor. The secondfield-effect transistor is connected so that in its closed state aportion of its structure works as a second diode (12). The thirdfield-effect transistor is switched so that, in its closed state, aportion of its structure works as a third diode (23).

The second field-effect transistor and the third field-effecttransistors are closed after a start of the watch movement. Charging ofthe second capacitive component (15) and the third capacitive component(16) is achieved by means of the second, third, and fourth diodes (12,23, 13). The second comparator (20) opens the second field-effecttransistor and the third field-effect transistor as soon as the voltageof the first capacitive component (10) reaches a minimum value of 0.8 Vand the voltage delivered by generator (1) is higher than the voltage ofthe third capacitive component (16). Thereafter, charging of the secondand third capacitive components (15, 16) is now achieved by means of thesecond field-effect transistor and the third field-effect transistor.Decrease of the voltage losses is the same as the above-describeddecrease of the voltage loss in the transition from the first diode tothe first field-effect transistor. In an analogous manner, opening andclosing of the second and third field-effect transistors is achieved bymeans of the second comparator (20). If the voltage delivered fromgenerator (1) falls below the voltage of the third capacitive component(16), the second comparator (20) closes the second and thirdfield-effect transistors. If the voltage delivered by the generator (1)climbs above the voltage of the third capacitive component (16), thesecond and third field-effect transistors are opened, that is, thesecond and third switches (17, 18) are closed. Compared with a pure useof diodes, an economical utilization of the energy reserve of the watchmovement is thus also achieved in the voltage tripler circuit, wherebythe movement reserve is increased.

A second embodiment of the voltage tripler is shown in FIG. 3, in which,in contrast to the first embodiment of the voltage tripler circuit, thecircuit branch containing the fourth diode (13) is missing. Because thefourth diode (13) is not absolutely necessary for the functioning of thevoltage tripler circuit, the second embodiment of the voltage triplercircuit also allows reliable functioning of the voltage transformercircuit (2). Of course, the respective diodes must always be fit to theactual circuit environment. The same also holds true for the thirdembodiment of the of the voltage tripler circuit shown in FIG. 4, whichhas only the circuit branch with fourth diode (13), but does not havethe circuit branches with second diode (12) and third diode (23). Inplace of the parallel circuit of the second diode (12) and the secondswitch (17), or, as the case may be, the parallel circuit of the thirddiode (23) and the third switch (18) present in the first embodiment ofthe voltage tripler circuit, the fourth embodiment of the voltagetripler circuit has only the second switch (17) alone, or, as the casemay be, the third switch (18) alone.

It is also conceivable that a voltage doubler circuit can be used inplace of the described voltage tripler circuit. In this case, it must beensured through selection of corresponding electronic components thatthe voltage transformer circuit (2) functions from a minimal peakvoltage of the generator of from 0.5 V.

It is also possible to provide a controllable voltage multiplier circuitin place of a voltage multiplier circuit which increases the outputvoltage of generator (1) by a fixed value.

The voltage transformer circuit (2) and the electronic control circuit(6, 7, 8, 9) are adjusted so that the power consumption of the energydissipation circuit (9) takes on a minimal value while any one of thecapacitive components (10, 15, 16) is charged.

In addition, the voltage transformer circuit (2) and the electroniccontrol circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) are so designed that the power consumptionof the energy dissipation circuit (9) regularly takes on a minimal valuefor 5×10⁻⁴ s in intervals of 3×10⁻² s in order to allow the comparators(20, 22) to achieve a potential comparison corresponding to theirfunction. Namely, if the potential comparison were to take place duringa generator load over the minimal load of the generator, than thecomparators (20, 21) would achieve false results with respect to thecharge possibilities of the capacitive components (10, 15, 16, ) becausethey would detect a generator voltage reduced with respect to agenerator voltage at minimal load.

I claim:
 1. Watch movement, whose spring drives a time indicator and analternating-voltage-supplying generator (1), wherein:the generator (1)supplies voltage to a voltage transformer circuit (2), the voltagetransformer circuit (2) supplies voltage to a first capacitive component(10), the first capacitive component (10) supplies voltage to anelectronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) with a stable oscillator (3, 4)and an electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9), wherein the electroniccontrol circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) includes:a comparator-logic circuit (6)having one input connected with the electronic reference circuit (3, 4,5) and another input connected to the generator (1) by means of acomparator step (7) and an anticoincidence circuit (8), and an energydissipation circuit (9) which is connected to an output of thecomparator-logic circuit (6) and whose power consumption is controllablethrough the comparator-logic circuit (6), wherein the comparator-logiccircuit (6) is designed so that:it compares a clock signal coming fromthe electronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) with a clock signaloriginating from the generator (1), the comparator logic circuit (6)controls the power consumption of the electronic control circuit (6, 7,8, 9) by means of the magnitude of the power consumption of the energydissipation circuit (9), in a manner dependent on the result of thecomparison of the clock signals, and wherein, in this manner, thecomparator-logic circuit (6) controls the movement of the generator (1)by control of the power consumption of the control circuit, and therebyalso controls the operation of the time indicator; characterized inthat:the first capacitive component (10) is charged at least directlyafter a first start of the watch movement by means of a passivecomponent or components, and the passive component or components arereplaced by an active unit or a plurality of active units, or aresupplemented by an active unit or a plurality of active units in aparallel circuit branch, as soon as the voltage of the first capacitivecomponent (10) suffices to operate the active unit or units, whereby theactive unit or units have a smaller electrical resistance in theconducting direction than the passive component or components.
 2. Watchmovement according to claim 1, characterized in that the voltagetransformer circuit (2) and the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9)are matched so that the power consumption of the energy dissipationcircuit (9) takes on a minimal value for a short period of time atpredetermined intervals of time in order to enable the active unit orunits to carry out potential comparisons.
 3. A watch movement accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the power consumption of theelectronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) is controllable in at leastthree stages.
 4. A watch movement according to claim 1, characterized inthat the power consumption of the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8,9) is substantially continuously controllable in a predetermined rangeof values.
 5. A watch movement according to claim 1, characterized inthat:the voltage transformer circuit (2) includes:a first diode (14) inseries with the generator (1) and the first capacitive component (10), afirst switch (19) in parallel to the first diode (14), in series withthe generator (1) and in series with the first capacitive component(10), a first comparator (21) controlling the first switch (19), and avoltage multiplying circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23), connectedon an input side to the generator (1) and connected on a load side tothe first capacitive component (10) and connected to the parallelcircuit of the first diode (14) and the first switch (19); wherein thefirst comparator (21) compares the electrical potential of a terminal ofthe first capacitive component (10) not lying at the ground potentialwith the electrical potential of a load side terminal of the voltagemultiplier circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) not lying at theground potential; wherein the first switch (19) is only then closed bythe first comparator (21) to thereby allow charging of the firstcapacitive component (10) by the first switch (19), ifthe voltage of thefirst capacitive component (10) is sufficient to operate the firstcomparator (21), and the electrical potential at the non-grounded loadside terminal of the voltage multiplier circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18,21, 23) is high enough for further charging of the first capacitivecomponent (10).
 6. A watch movement according to claim 1, characterizedin that the spring, gear train, generator (1), the voltage transformercircuit (2) and the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) are sodesigned that the generator (1) operates at a rotational speed that isgreater than the nominal rotational speed of the generator (1) during atime directly after a start of the watch movement until a point in timeat which the charging of the first capacitive component (10) reaches avoltage level high enough to enable functioning of all electroniccomponents of the watch movement.
 7. A watch movement according to claim5, characterized in that the first switch (19) is a first transistor. 8.A watch movement according to claim 8, characterized in that the firsttransistor is connected so that in the closed state, one portion of thefirst transistor functions as a first diode (14).
 9. A watch movementaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the energy dissipationcircuit (9) comprises one or more ohmic resistors.
 10. A watch movementaccording to claim 1, characterized in that:the comparator-logic circuit(6) comprises a counter having a count reading corresponding to a cycledifference between the generator (1) and the electronic referencecircuit (3, 4, 5), and the power consumption of the energy dissipationcircuit (9) is controlled dependent on the count reading of the counter.11. A watch movement according to claim 10, characterized in that:theenergy dissipation circuit (9) comprises one or more ohmic resistors,and each count reading of the counter corresponds to an associatedpredetermined effective resistance combination, including the resistancezero, of the energy dissipation circuit (9).
 12. A watch movementaccording to claim 10, characterized by a switch assembly forinterrupting an input of counts at a predetermined high counter readingand for interrupting an output of counts at a predetermined low counterreading.
 13. A watch movement according to claim 5, characterized inthat the voltage multiplier circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 20, 23) is acontrollable voltage multiplier circuit.
 14. A watch movement accordingto claim 5 characterized in that the voltage multiplier circuit (12, 13,15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) substantially doubles the output voltage of thegenerator (1).
 15. A watch movement according to claim 14, characterizedin that the voltage transformer circuit (2) functions as of a minimalpeak voltage of the generator of 0.5 V.
 16. A watch movement accordingto claim 5, characterized in that the voltage multiplier circuit (12,13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) substantially triples the output voltage ofthe generator (1).
 17. A watch movement according to claim 16,characterized in that the voltage transformer circuit (2) functions asof a minimal peak voltage of the generator of 0.3 V.
 18. A watchmovement according to claim 16, characterized in that the voltagemultiplier circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23) includes:second andthird capacitive components (15, 16), connected in series with thegenerator (1), whereby the generator (1) is positioned between thesecond capacitive component (15) and the third capacitive component(16), a parallel circuit of a second diode (12) and a second switch(17), whereby the parallel circuit of the second diode (12) and thesecond switch (17) are connected in series between the generator sideterminal of the second capacitive component (15) and the load sideterminal of the third capacitive element, a parallel circuit of a thirddiode (23) and a third switch (18), whereby the parallel circuit of thethird diode (23) and the third switch (18) are connected in seriesbetween the generator side terminal of the third capacitive component(16) and the load side terminal of the second capacitive component (15),and a second comparator (20) controlling the second and third switches(17, 18), wherein:the second and third diode (12, 23) are connected inthe same conducting direction and the first diode (14) in an oppositeconducting direction, the second comparator (20) compares the electricalpotential at the connection to the generator (1) connected with thesecond capacitive component (15), with the electrical potential at theload side terminal of the third capacitive component (16), and thesecond and/or the third switch (17, 18) is only closed and therebyenabling a charging of the second or third capacitive component (15, 16)by the third or second switch (18, 17), respectively, ifthe voltage ofthe first capacitive component (10) suffices to operate the secondcomparator (20), and the electrical potential produced by the generator(1) is high enough to charge the second or third capacitive component(15, 16).
 19. A watch movement according to claim 15, characterized inthat the voltage multiplier circuit (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23)comprises a fourth diode (13) in series between the load side terminalsof the second and third capacitive components (15, 16), whereby thefourth diode (13) is arranged in a conducting direction opposite to thatof the first diode (14).
 20. A watch movement according to claim 16,characterized in that the voltage multiplier circuit (12, 13, 15, 16,17, 18, 20, 23) comprises:second and third capacitive components (15,16), connected in series with the generator (1), whereby the generator(1) is disposed between the second capacitive component (15) and thethird capacitive component (16), a second switch (17) connected inseries between the generator side terminal of the second capacitivecomponent (15) and the load side terminal of the third capacitivecomponent (16), a third switch (18) connected in series between thegenerator side terminal of the third capacitive component (16) and theload side terminal of the second capacitive component (15), a secondcomparator (20) for controlling the second and third switches (17, 18),and a fourth diode (13) connected in series between the load sideterminals of the second and third capacitive components (15, 16),wherein:the fourth diode (13) is connected in an opposite conductiondirection to that of the first diode (14), the second comparator (20)compares an electrical potential at the terminal of the generator (1)connected to the second capacitive component (15), with an electricalpotential at a load side terminal of the third capacitive component(16), and the second and/or third switch (17, 18) is only closed by thesecond comparator (20) and thereby enables charging of the second orthird capacitive element (15, 16) through the third or second switch(18, 17) ifthe voltage of the first capacitive component (10) sufficesto operate the second comparator (20), and the electrical potentialavailable from the generator (1) is high enough to charge the second orthird capacitive component (15, 16).
 21. A watch movement according toclaim 15, characterized in that the second switch (17) is a secondtransistor and the third switch (18) is a third transistor.
 22. A watchmovement according to claim 18, characterized in that the secondtransistor is connected so that, in the closed state, a portion of thestructure of the second transistor functions as second diode (12).
 23. Awatch movement according to claim 21, characterized in that the thirdtransistor is connected so that, in the closed state, a portion of thestructure of the third transistor functions as third diode (23).
 24. Awatch movement according to claim 10, further comprising an assembly forindicating the movement reserve dependent on the count reading.
 25. Awatch movement according to claim 10, characterized in that thecomparator-logic circuit (6) and the energy dissipation circuit (9) arematched so that the power consumption of the energy dissipation circuit(9) is held to a minimum for a predetermined range of counts and changesin a linearly proportional manner after the predetermined count isexceeded.
 26. A watch movement according to claim 24, characterized inthat the indication of the movement reserve is achieved by an LCD.
 27. Awatch movement according to claim 1, characterized in that the stableoscillator (3, 4) comprises a quartz resonator (4).
 28. A watch movementaccording to claim 27, characterized in that the voltage transformercircuit (2), the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) and theelectronic reference circuit (3, 5), with the exception of the quartzresonator (4), are constructed as an IC (11).
 29. A watch movementaccording to claim 27, characterized in that the voltage transformercircuit (2), the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) and theelectronic reference circuit (3, 5), with the exception of the quartzresonator (4), and with the exception of all capacitive componentspresent in said circuits, are constructed as an IC.
 30. A watch movementaccording to claim 5, characterized in that the voltage transformercircuit (2) and the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) are matchedso that a power consumption of the energy dissipation circuit (9)assumes a minimal value for a short period of time at predeterminedintervals of time in order to allow the first comparator (21) to make apotential comparison.
 31. A watch movement according to claim 1,characterized in that the voltage transformer circuit (2) and theelectronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) are matched so that the powerconsumption of the energy dissipation circuit (9) assumes a minimalvalue while the first capacitive component (10) is charged.
 32. A watchmovement according to claim 18 characterized in that the voltagetransformer circuit (2) and the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9)are matched so that the power consumption of the energy dissipationcircuit (9) assumes a minimal value, while the first capacitivecomponent (10) and/or the second capacitive component (15) and/or thethird capacitive component (16) is charged.
 33. A watch movementaccording to claim 18, characterized in that the voltage transformercircuit (2) and the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) are matchedso that the power consumption of the energy dissipation circuit (9)assumes a minimal value for a short period of time at predeterminedintervals of time, in order to allow both the first comparator (21) andthe second comparator (20) to perform a potential comparison.
 34. Awatch movement according to claim 1, characterized in that a frequencysplitter circuit (5) is connected in the electronic reference circuit(3, 4, 5) between the stable oscillator (3, 4) and the connection to theelectronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9).
 35. A watch movement accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the energy dissipation circuit (9) isa controllable current source.
 36. Watch movement, whose spring drives atime indicator and an alternating-voltage-supplying generator (1),wherein:the generator (1) supplies voltage to a voltage transformercircuit (2), the voltage transformer circuit (2) supplies voltage to afirst capacitive component (10), the first capacitive component (10)supplies voltage to an electronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) with astable oscillator (3, 4) and an electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9),wherein the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) includes:acomparator-logic circuit (6) having one input connected with theelectronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) and another input connected tothe generator (1) by means of a comparator step (7) and ananticoincidence circuit (8), and an energy dissipation circuit (9) whichis connected to an output of the comparator-logic circuit (6) and whosepower consumption is controllable through the comparator-logic circuit(6), wherein the comparator-logic circuit (6) is designed so that:itcompares a clock signal coming from the electronic reference circuit (3,4, 5) with a clock signal originating from the generator (1), thecomparator logic circuit (6) controls the power consumption of theelectronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) by means of the magnitude of thepower consumption of the energy dissipation circuit (9), in a mannerdependent on the result of the comparison of the clock signals, andwherein, in this manner, the comparator-logic circuit (6) controls themovement of the generator (1) by control of the power consumption of thecontrol circuit, and thereby also controls the operation of the timeindicator; characterized in that:the power consumption of the electroniccontrol circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) is controllable in at least three stages.37. A watch movement according to claim 36, characterized in that:thefirst capacitive component (10) is charged at least directly after afirst start of the watch movement by means of a passive component orcomponents, and the passive component or components are replaced by anactive unit or a plurality of active units, or are supplemented by anactive unit or a plurality of active units in a parallel circuit branch,as soon as the voltage of the first capacitive component (10) sufficesto operate the active unit or units, whereby the active unit or unitshave a smaller electrical resistance in the conducting direction thanthe passive component or components.
 38. Watch movement, whose springdrives a time indicator and an alternating-voltage-supplying generator(1), wherein:the generator (1) supplies voltage to a voltage transformercircuit (2), the voltage transformer circuit (2) supplies voltage to afirst capacitive component (10), the first capacitive component (10)supplies voltage to an electronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) with astable oscillator (3, 4) and an electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8,9),wherein the electronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) includes: acomparator-logic circuit (6) having one input connected with theelectronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) and another input connected tothe generator (1) by means of a comparator step (7) and ananticoincidence circuit (8), and an energy dissipation circuit (9) whichis connected to an output of the comparator-logic circuit (6) and whosepower consumption is controllable through the comparator-logic circuit(6),wherein the comparator-logic circuit (6) is designed so that: itcompares a clock signal coming from the electronic reference circuit (3,4, 5) with a clock signal originating from the generator (1), thecomparator logic circuit (6) controls the power consumption of theelectronic control circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) by means of the magnitude of thepower consumption of the energy dissipation circuit (9), in a mannerdependent on the result of the comparison of the clock signals,andwherein, in this manner, the comparator-logic circuit (6) controlsthe movement of the generator (1) by control of the power consumption ofthe control circuit, and thereby also controls the operation of the timeindicator; characterized in that:the power consumption of the electroniccontrol circuit (6, 7, 8, 9) is controllable substantially continuouslyin a predetermined range of values.
 39. Watch movement according toclaim 38 characterized in that the spring, gear train, generator (1),voltage transformer circuit (2) and the electronic control circuit (6,7, 8, 9) are designed so that the generator (1) operates at a rotationalspeed directly after start of the watch movement which is greater thanthe nominal speed of the generator (1), in order to enable start of theelectronic reference circuit (3, 4, 5) and the electronic controlcircuit (6, 7, 8, 9).